Recording medium device containing recording medium and recording/reproducing device

ABSTRACT

A tape cartridge housing a magnetic tape includes an auxiliary storage medium having a storage unit in which to store the recording medium information such as design parameters or the number of times of recording and/or reproduction of the magnetic tape, and a transmission/reception unit for effecting inputting/outputting of the recording medium information with the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. The auxiliary storage medium is mounted so that the transmission/reception unit is exposed to the outside through an opening provided in a lateral surface of the main cartridge body unit not obstructing the loading of the magnetic tape, that is in a surface of the main cartridge body unit other than its front surface as an inserting end of the tape cartridge into the inside of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. The auxiliary storage medium has an antenna constituting the transmission/reception unit for inputting/outputting the recording medium information with the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. It is through this antenna that the power is supplied from the auxiliary recording and/or reproducing unit provided on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus in accordance with a non-contact system transmitting the recording medium information and the power overlaid on the recording medium information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a recording medium device having a disc-shapedrecording medium, such as a tape-shaped recording medium, e.g., amagnetic tape, carrying information signals, or a disc-shaped recordingmedium, such as an optical disc or a magnetic disc, accommodated in amain cartridge body unit, and/or a recording and/or reproducingapparatus. More particularly, it relates to a recording medium devicehaving an auxiliary recording member, memorizing the recording mediuminformation concerning the recording medium housed in the main cartridgebody unit, and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus employing thisrecording medium device.

BACKGROUND ART

Up to now, a tape cartridge having a magnetic tape accommodated in amain cartridge body unit has been in use as a recording medium for arecording and/or reproducing apparatus, such as a tape recorder or avideo tape recorder. In this sort of the tape cartridge, such a tapecartridge having a tape width of 8 mm is in widespread use. The tapecartridge of this sort, now offered to the market, is classified intoone used as a recording medium for a recording and/or reproducingapparatus used as external equipment for an information processingapparatus, such as a computer, for recording data signals, which aremainly digital signals, and one used as a recording medium for a videotape recorder for recording mainly video and audio signals. The tapecartridge used for recording data signals and the tape cartridge usedfor recording video and audio signals each comprise a magnetic tape,having a tape width of 8 mm, housed in a main cartridge body unit havinga size and an outer profile corresponding to those of the magnetic tape.It is therefore extremely difficult to visually distinguish the tapecartridge used for recording data signals and that used for recordingvideo or audio signals.

Meanwhile, the magnetic tapes housed in the tape cartridge used forrecording data signals and that housed in the tape cartridge used forrecording audio signals differ from each other as to design parametersof the magnetic medium etc. The magnetic tape used for a tape cassettefor recording data signals is larger in storage capacity and is morestrict in tolerance for an error rate for data signals than that usedfor recording video or audio signals. Thus, if the tape cartridge forrecording video or audio signals is inadvertently loaded on a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus for an information processing apparatus andused as a tape cartridge for recording data signals, there is presenteda problem of failure in recording necessary data or data dropout due toshortage of the recording capacity.

Thus, as a tape cartridge housing a magnetic tape having a tape width of8 mm, there is used a tape cartridge having an auxiliary recordingmember for storage of the information for the recording mediumconcerning the magnetic tape housed in the main cartridge body unit.Since a variety of the information other than the design parameters ofthe magnetic tape can be recorded on this auxiliary recording member, itis possible to enhance the range of application of the tape cartridge.

This tape cartridge has a main cartridge body unit within which isrotationally mounted a tape reel carrying a magnetic tape wound thereon.The magnetic tape is reeled outwardly of the main cartridge body unitthrough a tape pull-out opening provided in both sides of the front sideof the main cartridge body unit, and is run across a pair of tape reels.On the front side of the main cartridge body unit is rotationallymounted a front lid adapted to cover the magnetic tape pulled out on thefront side of the main cartridge body unit.

On one corner on the back side facing the front side of the maincartridge body unit, there is provided an auxiliary recording memberhaving recorded thereon the recording medium information concerning amagnetic tape. This auxiliary recording member is made up of a wiringsubstrate, a storage element mounted on one surface of the wiringsubstrate and plural contact terminals printed on its other surface. Thewiring substrate, carrying a variety of electric circuits, is arrangedalong a rear wall section of the main cartridge body unit. Thisauxiliary recording member is mounted in position by having both sidesof the wiring substrate fitted in mating grooves formned along the rearwall section of the main cartridge body unit, with the storage elementdirecting to the inner side of the main cartridge body unit and with thecontact terminal directing to the outside thereof.

In the storage element, a variety of the recording medium information,such as the recording capacity, design parameters of the magnetic tapehoused in the tape cartridge, use state or the contents of theinformation signals recorded on the magnetic tape. The contact terminalsare the input/output terminal of the storage element, and are contactedwith the connector connected to the auxiliary recording and/orreproducing unit for electrical connection. The recording mediuminformation recorded on the storage element of the auxiliary storagemember is read out by the auxiliary recording and/or reproducing unitprovided in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. Moreover, theupdated new recording medium information is stored in the storageelement.

In the above-described tape cartridge carrying the auxiliary storagemember having the storage element, electrical connection with theauxiliary recording and/or reproducing unit of the recording and/orreproducing apparatus is necessitated in reproducing the recordingmedium information stored in the storage element or in storing therecording medium information in the storage element, such that thecontact terminal is contacted with the connector each time the tapecartridge is loaded on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. Thus,contact between the contact terminal and the connector is repeated suchthat contact deterioration is produced to render it impossible toperform reliable inputting/outputting of the recording and/orreproducing information.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording mediumdevice in which the inputting/outputting of the recording mediuminformation between an auxiliary storage medium having the recordingmedium information concerning the recording medium stored therein andthe auxiliary recording and/or reproducing unit provided on therecording and/or reproducing apparatus may be realized in a contact-freefashion to render it possible to effect the inputting/outputting of therecording medium information.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a recordingmedium device reduced in size and simplified in structure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus which is able to use not only a tapecartridge having a transmission/reception unit in the auxiliary storagemedium but also a conventional tape cartridge having an auxiliarystorage medium carrying contact point terminals.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus which realizes transmission/reception ofthe recording medium information during loading of the recording mediumto shorten the loading time.

A recording medium device according to the present invention includes amain cartridge body unit for housing therein a recording medium on whichto record information signals, and an auxiliary storage medium having astorage unit in which to store the recording medium informationconcerning the recording medium and a transmission/reception unit forinputting/outputting the recording medium information with a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus in a non-contact fashion. The storage unitand the transmission/reception unit are arranged on the same substrate.The auxiliary storage medium is arranged in the main cartridge body unitso that the transmission/reception unit of the substrate carrying thestorage unit along with the transmission/reception unit is exposed tooutside through an opening provided in at least one lateral surfaceexcluding the front surface operating as an intruding end of the maincartridge body unit into the inside of the recording and/or reproducingapparatus.

The auxiliary storage medium has an antenna for inputting/outputting therecording medium information with the recording and/or reproducingapparatus and the auxiliary storage medium is operated by drivingsignals supplied from the transmission/reception unit provided on therecording and/or reproducing apparatus.

The auxiliary storage medium comprises a first auxiliary substrate,having a storage unit, a second auxiliary substrate, carrying a primarycoil constituting a transmission/reception unit, and a secondary coilconstituting the transmission/reception unit in cooperation with theprimary coil, with the first to third auxiliary substrates being layeredand unified together.

The auxiliary storage medium is of substantially the same outer shape asthe contact type auxiliary storage medium having contact point terminalsadapted to effect information transmission/reception in contact withcontact point terminals provided on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus. The auxiliary storage medium is adapted to be loadable on amain cartridge body unit of a recording medium device on which to load acontact type auxiliary recording medium device carrying contact pointterminals so as to take the place of the contact type auxiliary storagemedium, the contact type auxiliary recording medium device havingcontact point terminals for effecting information transmission/receptionin contact with contact point terminals provided on the recording and/orreproducing apparatus.

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to the presentinvention comprises a loading unit on which to load a recording mediumdevice, a recording and/or reproducing unit for recording and/orreproducing a recording medium when the recording medium device isloaded on the loading unit, a transmission/reception unit for effectingnon-contact inputting/outputting of the recording medium informationwith the auxiliary storage medium having stored therein the recordingmedium information concerning the recording medium of the recordingmedium device, and an auxiliary recording and/or reproducing unitarranged facing the auxiliary storage medium of the recording mediumdevice, or otherwise arranged in a manner not obstructing the loading ofthe recording medium, when the recording medium device is loaded on theloading unit.

This auxiliary recording and/or reproducing unit adopts the non-contactsystem of transmitting the modulated signal with the power overlaidthereon. To this end, the auxiliary recording and/or reproducing unitincludes a transmission/reception unit for transmitting/receiving therecording medium information with the auxiliary storage medium of therecording medium device and for furnishing driving signals for drivingthe auxiliary storage medium.

The recording medium information is inputted/outputted with theauxiliary storage medium of the recording medium device during theloading of the recording medium to shorten the time needed for recordingand/or reproduction of the recording medium.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description which is made with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cartridge according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state in which the front lid ofthe tape cartridge is opened.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of the tapecartridge.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a portion of the tape cartridge housingthe auxiliary storage medium.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an auxiliary storage member.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the auxiliary storage unit.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a portion of the tapecartridge housing the auxiliary storage medium.

FIG. 8 is a back side view of the tape cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a circuit structure of the auxiliarystorage medium.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment ofthe auxiliary storage medium.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing first to fourth auxiliary substratesconstituting the auxiliary storage medium shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of theauxiliary storage medium.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a tape cartridge on which isloaded the auxiliary storage medium provided with a protective terminal.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a recording and/or reproducingapparatus employing a tape cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a cartridge loading device showing an initialoperating state in which the cartridge is inserted and held in thecartridge holder and in which the cartridge holder is pulled towards thecartridge loading device.

FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the operation ofloading the tape cartridge on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing an auxiliary recording and/or reproducingmechanism.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the auxiliary recording and/orreproducing mechanism.

FIG. 20 is a bottom view showing a wiring substrate constituting theauxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a transmission/reception unit constitutingthe auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism.

FIG. 22 is a circuit diagram showing a specified structure of amodulation unit and an amplifier constituting the transmission/receptionunit.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing a controller of the recording and/orreproducing apparatus.

FIG. 24 is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating theoperation of loading the tape cartridge on the recording and/orreproducing apparatus.

FIG. 25 is a side view of a cartridge loading apparatus showing thestate in which the cartridge holder is tilted as it is moved towards thecartridge loading position.

FIG. 26 is a side view of the cartridge loading device showing the statein which the cartridge holder is loaded in a substantially horizontalstate on the cartridge loading unit.

FIG. 27 is a side view showing the state in which the tape cartridge hasbeen loaded on the cartridge loading unit.

FIG. 28 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the cartridge loadingdevice showing the state in which the cartridge holder is tilted as itis moved towards the cartridge loading position.

FIG. 29 is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating the stateof inadvertent loading of the tape cartridge.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart for illustrating the operation as from insertionof the tape cartridge until recording and/or reproduction.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart for illustrating the operation until ejection ofthe tape cartridge.

FIG. 32 is a side view showing another embodiment of the auxiliaryrecording and/or reproducing mechanism.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, a tape cartridge embodying the presentinvention and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus for this tapecartridge are hereinafter explained.

A tape cartridge embodying the present invention houses therein amagnetic tape having a tape width of 8 mm. The tape cartridge 1 is usedas a recording medium for the information processing apparatus, such asa computer, and is configured to have a sufficiently large recordingcapacity as compared to a tape recorder cartridge for a video taperecorder used exclusively for recording video and audio signals. Thetape cartridge 1, configured for recording the data signals, issubstantially coincident in outer profile with tape cartridge for avideo tape recorder housing a magnetic tape with a tape width of 8 mmconstructed mainly for recording video and audio signals, such that thetape cartridge 1 has the width, length and thickness in common with thetape cartridge for the video tape recorder.

Similarly to the aforementioned tape cartridge for the tape recorder,this tape cartridge 1 includes a main cartridge body unit 4, combinedand unified from the upper and lower halves 2, 3, and a pair of tapereels 5, 6 are rotatably fulcrumed within the main cartridge body unit4, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Across these tape reels 5, 6 is placed amagnetic tape 7 as the recording medium. As this magnetic tape 7, such aone is used which has the specifications such that information signalshandled in the information processing apparatus such as a computer canbe recorded with a sufficiently large recording capacity with optimumrecording characteristics.

The magnetic tape 7, wound about the tape reels 5, 6, is pulledoutwardly of the main cartridge body unit 4 via tape pull-out openings8, 9 provided in both sides of the front surface of the main cartridgebody unit 4, and is run across the tape reels 5, 6, as shown in FIG. 2.

On the front side of the main cartridge body unit 4 is rotatably mounteda lid 10 adapted for covering the magnetic tape 7 pulled out on thefront side of the main cartridge body unit 4. This lid 10 includesrotary pieces 10 a, 10 a, protruded on both sides, and has these rotarypieces 10 a, 10 a pivotally mounted on both sides of the front surfaceof the main cartridge body unit 4 via a supporting pin 11. Thus, the lid10 is rotated between the position of closing the front side of the maincartridge body unit 4 and the position of opening the front surface,about the supporting pin 11 as center, as shown in FIG. 2. On beingrotated in this manner, the lid 10 opens or closes the front side of themain cartridge body unit 4. Meanwhile, an upper lid 12, adapted forcovering a portion of the upper surface of the main cartridge body unit4, is mounted on the lid 10 for rotation in synchronism therewith forcovering a portion of the upper surface of the main cartridge body unit4.

In the front side of the main cartridge body unit 4, covered by the lid10, there is formed a recess 13 into which is intruded a loadingmechanism adapted for pulling out the magnetic tape 7 from the maincartridge body unit 4 to it on the tape running path within therecording and/or reproducing apparatus in which to load the tapecartridge 1, as shown in FIG. 3.

In the upper surface of the main cartridge body unit 4 is formed arectangular viewing window through which to view the state of themagnetic tape 7 wound across the paired tape reels 5, 6.

In the bottom surface of the main cartridge body unit 4 are bored reeldriving shaft inserting holes 17, 18, which permit hubs 15, 16 providedcentrally of the tape reels 5, 6 to be exposed to outside, and which areengaged with the hubs 15, 16 to run the tape reels 5, 6 into rotation.In the bottom surface of the main cartridge body unit 4 on both lateralsides of the back surface thereof opposite to the front surface carryingthe lid 10, there are bored positioning holes 19, 20 which are engagedby positioning pins provided on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus, when the tape cartridge 1 is loaded on the recording and/orreproducing apparatus, for setting the loading position. In the bottomsurface of the main cartridge body unit 4 is bored a reel lock memberactuating opening 21 centrally of the back surface for facing anactuating portion of a reel lock member restricting the free rotation ofthe tape reels 5, 6. In this reel lock member actuating opening 21 isintruded a reel unlock member provided on the recording and/orreproducing apparatus on loading the tape cartridge 1 on the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus to cause movement of the reel lock memberto unlock the tape reels 5, 6. In the bottom surface of the maincartridge body unit 4 is formed a light emitting element insertingopening 22 into which is intruded light emitting element constituting anend detection mechanism detecting the end of the magnetic tape 7provided on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, as shown in FIG.3.

In the bottom surface of the main cartridge body unit 4 are formed twotape design parameter discriminating holes 23, 24, specifying the designparameters of the magnetic tape 7, such as its thickness or tape sort,as shown in FIG. 3. It is noted that the tape design parameterdiscriminating holes 23, 24 indicate that the magnetic tape 7 is of athickness enabling recording of information signals and that themagnetic recording medium corresponds to the magnetic head of therecording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording informationsignals. A mistaken recording prohibiting hole 25 enables recording ofinformation signals on the magnetic tape 7. That is, the mistakenrecording prohibiting hole 25 is in a closed state.

In the bottom surface of the main cartridge body unit 4 at an oppositeside corner towards the back surface proximate to the opposite sidepositioning hole 20 is bored a tape cartridge discriminating hole 26indicating that the tape cartridge 1 is one for recording computer dataand which is engaged by a mistaken loading prohibiting member providedon the recording and/or reproducing apparatus for prohibiting themistaken loading of the tape cartridge 1. This discriminating hole 26 isof a rectangular profile larger than the tape design parameterdiscriminating holes 23, 24.

The positioning holes 19, 20, tape design parameter discriminating holes23, 24, mistaken recording prohibiting hole 25 and the discriminatinghole 26 are provided on an outer rim side of the tape reels 5, 6 housedin the main cartridge body unit 4. That is, the positioning holes 19,20, tape design parameter discriminating holes 23, 24, mistakenrecording prohibiting hole 25 and the discriminating hole 26 areprovided on an outer rim side of the maximum winding diameter of themagnetic tape 7 wound about the tape reels 5, 6. Moreover, thepositioning holes 19, 20, tape design parameter discriminating holes 23,24, mistaken recording prohibiting hole 25 and the discriminating hole26 are formed so as to be closer to the back surface of the maincartridge body unit 4 than a centerline interconnecting the positioningholes 19, 20 bored in both lateral sides of the main cartridge body unit4. By providing the hole 23 to 26 in this manner, it is possible toprevent obstruction of the running of the magnetic tape 7 by thisintrusion into these holes of detection means provided on the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus to enable positive detection of the holes23 to 26 by the detection means.

Within the inside of the main cartridge body unit 4, there is arrangedan auxiliary storage medium 31 for recording a variety of informationitems, such as design parameters, use states or recording positions ofthe magnetic tape 7, contents of the information signals recordedthereon, or the number of times of recording or replay. The auxiliarystorage medium 31 is provided towards the opposite side corner of thelower cartridge half 3 provided with the discriminating hole 26, suchthat the auxiliary storage medium extends along the inner lateralsurface of the back side wall 27 of the lower cartridge half 3. In theinner lateral surface of the back side wall 27 are formed insertiongrooves 32, 33 for mounting the auxiliary storage medium 31. It is bythese insertion grooves 32, 33 that the auxiliary storage medium 31 ismounted within the main cartridge body unit 4.

The auxiliary storage medium 31, mounted on the main cartridge body unit4, includes a wiring substrate 34, on both surfaces of which are printedwirings, a storage element 35 mounted on one surface of the wiringsubstrate 34 and a coil-shaped antenna 37 mounted on the one surface ofthe wiring substrate 34 to constitute a transmission/reception unit 40,as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The auxiliary storage medium 31 is assembledto the lower cartridge half 3 by fitting both ends of the wiringsubstrate 34 into the insertion grooves 32, 33 so that the antenna 37will be directed to the outside of the main cartridge body unit 4. Theauxiliary storage medium 31 is reduced in size and simplified instructure by having the storage element 35 and the antenna 37 mounted onthe same wiring substrate 34.

In the storage element 35 is stored a variety of recording mediuminformation, such as the design parameters and use state of the magnetictape 7 housed in the tape cartridge 1, contents of the informationsignals recorded on the magnetic tape 7 or the number of times ofrecording and replay of the magnetic tape 7. The antenna 7 transmits andreceives the recording medium information over a radio path with anantenna 107 of an auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism 101on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus which takes charge ofreadout of the recording medium information recorded on the storageelement 35 or updating of the recording medium information stored on thestorage element 35. The auxiliary storage medium 31 is provided with atuning point adjustment capacitor 39 connected to the antenna 37. Theantenna 37 faces the outside of opening 38 to transmit or receive therecording medium information over a radio path with the ancillaryrecording and/or reproducing mechanism provided on the recording and/orreproducing apparatus to read out or update the recording mediuminformation recorded on the storage element 35.

Meanwhile, the auxiliary storage medium 31 has, on its wiring substrate34, a transmission/reception unit 40 comprised of the followingelements. That is, referring to FIG. 9, the wiring substrate 34 includesthe antenna 37 for receiving an electrical wave transmitted over theantenna of the transmission/reception unit of the auxiliary recordingand/or reproducing mechanism of the recording and/or reproducingapparatus for the tape cartridge 1, a protection circuit 41 forprotecting various circuits, an amplifier 42 for amplifying receivedsignals, a demodulator 43 for demodulating the amplified receptionsignals for reproducing the recording medium information, a controlcircuit 44 for controlling the write/readout of the recording mediuminformation, a memory 45 constituted by the storage element 35 adaptedto store the recording medium information, a modulator 46 for modulatingthe carrier wave with the recording medium information read out from thememory 45, an amplifier 47 for amplifying the modulated signals from themodulator 46 for driving the antenna 37 and a rectifier circuit 48 forconverting received signals into a dc voltage.

When updating the recording medium information of the memory 45 of theauxiliary storage medium 31, the antenna 37 sends the reception signalsthrough the protection circuit 41 to the amplifier 42. The protectioncircuit 41 protects respective circuits of the auxiliary storage mediumfrom an excessive electrical wave. The amplifier 42 amplifies thereception signals and routes the amplified signals to the demodulator43. The demodulator 43 detects the amplified reception signals, that isthe modulated amplitude signal, in accordance with, for example, anenvelope detection system, to reproduce the recording mediuminformation, which is supplied to the control circuit 44.

The control circuit 44 performs control of storing the data of therecording medium information in the memory 45. In more detail, if e.g.,the number of times of recording or reproduction on or from the magnetictape is to be updated, a command for updating the number of times ofrecording and data on the number of times of recording are sent in thisorder from the transmission/reception unit of the recording and/orreproducing apparatus. Based on the command, the control circuit 44rewrites and updates the data on the number of times of recording storedin the memory 45.

The rectifier circuit 48 full-wave-rectifies and smooths the receptionsignals to generate a DC voltage required by the auxiliary storagemedium 31 to send the generated DC voltage to respective circuits.

The operation of reading out the recording median information from thetape cartridge 1 to the transmission/reception unit of the auxiliaryrecording and/or reproducing mechanism of the recording and/orreproducing apparatus is hereinafter explained. For reading out therecording medium information from the memory 45 of the tape cartridge 1,a command for reading out the recording medium information from therecording medium information is first sent from the recording and/orreproducing apparatus to the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tapecartridge. The control circuit 44 reads out required data from thememory 45 to route the read-out data to the modulator 46, which thenmodulates the carrier wave in accordance with a pre-set modulationmethod to send the modulated carrier wave to the amplifier 47. Theamplifier amplifies the modulated signals to drive the antenna 37.

Meanwhile, in view of the actual use state of the tape cartridge 1, theauxiliary storage medium 31 contains no batteries, with the power foractivating the respective circuits being fed from the recording and/orreproducing apparatus 60. That is, the auxiliary storage medium 31 ofthe tape cartridge 1 is fed with power in accordance with thenon-contact system of transmitting the modulated signals overlaid withthe power from a transmission/reception unit of the recording and/orreproducing apparatus for supplying the power.

If the recording medium information is to be inputted/outputted to orfrom the auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism on therecording and/or reproducing apparatus over a radio path using theantenna 37, there is provided no contact part, and hence there occurs nodegradation of the contact part, so that the recording mediuminformation can be inputted/outputted reliably. In this manner, therecording medium information stored on the storage element 35 of theauxiliary storage medium 31 is read out by the auxiliary recordingand/or reproducing mechanism provided on the recording and/orreproducing apparatus or on an independent auxiliary recording and/orreproducing apparatus. Moreover, the updated recording mediuminformation is recorded on the storage element 35. Thus, with thepresent tape cartridge 1, the range of use is appreciably increased byexploiting a variety of the recording medium information in a mannerhighly meritorious in handling a large quantity of tape cartridges.

The opening 38 may be fitted with a shutter member for opening/closingthe auxiliary storage medium 31. The auxiliary storage medium 31 mayalso be provided on e.g., an inner lateral surface of the lateral wallsection running at right angles to the rear wall section 27, if theauxiliary storage medium does not obstruct the loading of the magnetictape 7, it being not absolutely necessary to provide the auxiliarystorage medium on the rear side wall 27 of the main cartridge body unit4.

If the tape cartridge 1 is loaded on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus as described above, it is transported to the loading unit,which performs the recording and/or reproduction, by a movementmechanism responsible for transporting the tape cartridge to the loadingposition. At this time, the tape cartridge 1 is rotated by an openingmechanism opening the lid 10 on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus so that the recess 13 over which extends the magnetic tape 7is exposed to the outside. The discriminating hole 26 of the maincartridge body unit 4 is engaged by a cartridge discriminating pieceprovided on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus to detect theloading. That is, the discriminating hole 26 operates as adiscriminating hole for the tape cartridge 1 loading the auxiliarystorage medium 31 thereon.

Also, a reel driving shaft provided on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus is intruded into the reel driving shaft inserting holes 17, 18so that the reel driving shaft is engaged in the hubs 15, 16 of the tapereels 5, 6. Into the tape cartridge 1 is intruded an unlock member,provided on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, from the reellock member actuating opening 21, to act on the reel lock member in themain cartridge body unit 4 to unlock the tape reels 5, 6. The auxiliarystorage medium 31, provided on the planar wall 27 of the main cartridgebody unit 4, faces the auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanismprovided on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. When loaded onthe loading unit of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, thepositioning pins on the loading unit are engaged in the positioningholes 19, 20 provided in the main cartridge body unit 4 to cause thetape cartridge 1 to be loaded in position on the loading unit. Thus, theauxiliary storage medium 31 of the main cartridge body unit 4 faces theauxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism provided on therecording and/or reproducing apparatus to permit reliable communicationof the recording medium information. In more detail, if the recordingmedium information is to be read out from the tape cartridge 1 from theauxiliary storage medium 31 to the transmission/reception unit of theauxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism of the recording and/orreproducing apparatus, a command for reading out the recording mediuminformation is sent to the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tapecartridge 1 from the transmission/reception unit of the auxiliaryrecording and/or reproducing mechanism of the recording and/orreproducing apparatus. The control circuit 44 then reads out thenecessary data from the memory 45 to route the read-out data to themodulator 46, as shown in FIG. 9. The modulator 46 modulates the carrierwave with the read-out data in accordance with a pre-set modulationsystem to route the amplified modulated signals to the amplifier 47. Theamplifier amplifies the modulated signals to the antenna 37 to transmitthe recording medium information to the transmission/reception unit ofthe auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism on the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus.

Simultaneously, the loading mechanism for pulling the magnetic tape 7 onthe recording and/or reproducing apparatus to the rotary magnetic headas recording and/or reproducing means is intruded into the recess 13 ofthe tape cartridge 1 to pull out the magnetic tape 7 from the maincartridge body unit 4 to perform the loading to a pre-set tape path.

The read-out of the recording medium information is carried out afterloading on the loading unit of the recording and/or reproducingapparatus until the end of loading of the magnetic tape 7. When theloading of the magnetic tape 7 comes to a close, the magnetic head isrun in rotation so that the information signals recorded on the magnetictape 7 is read or written by the magnetic head. The recording and/orreproducing apparatus is controlled based on this recording mediuminformation.

If, on loading the tape cartridge 1 on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus, the auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism detectsthat the number of times of recording and/or reproduction for themagnetic tape 7 stored in the auxiliary storage medium 31 has reached apreset value, the magnetic tape 7 is automatically cleaned by amechanism adapted to clean the magnetic tape on the recording and/orreproducing apparatus. The state of the tape cartridge 1 is updated eachtime the tape cartridge 1 is loaded on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus, so that the latest state of the tape cartridge 1 is managed,and hence the tape cartridge 1 can be maintained at all times in anoptimum state.

Also, if the recording and/or reproducing operation for the magnetictape 7 comes to a close, the magnetic tape 7 is accommodated in the maincartridge body unit 4 by the aforementioned loading mechanism. When theloading operation comes to a close, the recording medium informationupdated by the auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism of therecording and/or reproducing apparatus is recorded on the auxiliarystorage medium 31. At this time, the updated recording mediuminformation is written in the storage element 35 over a radio path.Specifically, the antenna 37 routes the reception signal through theprotection circuit 41 to the amplifier 42, which then amplifies thereception signal to route the amplified signal to the demodulator 43.The demodulator detects the amplified reception signal to reproduce therecording medium information to route it to the control circuit 44. Thecontrol circuit performs control to store the recording mediuminformation to be stored in the memory 45 to update the recording mediuminformation.

Since the tape cartridge 1 is able to write the recording mediuminformation over the radio path, and hence is free from an inconvenienceof deterioration of contact terminals, as compared to the conventionaltape cartridge employing the contact terminal, the recording mediuminformation can be transmitted/received reliably. Since the circuitrysuch as the storage element 35 or the antenna is provided on the samewiring substrate 34, the auxiliary storage medium can be reduced in sizeand simplified in structure.

With the above-described auxiliary storage medium 31,transmission/reception of the recording medium information and powersupply are performed in a contact-free state with respect to therecording and/or reproducing apparatus to reduce the size, it may alsobe designed to be compatible with respect to a contact type auxiliarystorage medium having a contact terminal adapted to be contacted withthe contact terminal for transmission/reception provided on therecording and/or reproducing apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, this auxiliary storage medium 201 includesa first auxiliary substrate 203, provided with a memory 202, a secondauxiliary substrate 205, formed with a primary coil 204, constituting atransmission/reception unit 210, a third auxiliary substrate 207, formedwith a secondary coil 206, constituting a transmission/reception unitalong with the primary coil 204, and a fourth auxiliary substrate 209,provided with plural protective terminals 208 contacted with the contactterminals provided on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus forprotecting the communication terminals.

The primary coil 204 and the secondary coil 206 are formed by etchingcopper foils layered on the second auxiliary substrate 205 and on thethird auxiliary substrate 207. The protective terminals 208 is formed byetching the copper foils layered on the fourth auxiliary substrate 209.

This auxiliary substrate 201 is formed by layering the first and fourthauxiliary substrates 203, 209 with the second auxiliary substrate 205and the third auxiliary substrate 207 in-between and by unifying theauxiliary substrates together. At this time, the first auxiliarysubstrate 203 is layered so that its memory 202 faces outwards, whilstthe fourth auxiliary substrate 209 is layered so that the protectiveterminal 208 faces outwards.

This auxiliary storage medium 201 is designed to be of substantially thesame outer shape as the contact type auxiliary storage medium in whichthe contact terminal provided on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus is in contact with the contact terminal to transmit/receivethe information. The protective terminal 208 is of the same size andprovided at the sane position as the contact terminal provided on thecontact type auxiliary storage medium adapted to be contacted with thecontact terminal provided on the recording and/or reproducing apparatusto transmit/receive the information.

The first to fourth auxiliary substrates 203, 205, 207, 209, layeredtogether, are formed to the same size.

The auxiliary substrate 201 may be interchangeably loaded on a tapecartridge employing a contact type auxiliary storage medium the contactterminal of which is contacted with the contact terminal provided on therecording and/or reproducing apparatus to transmit/receive theinformation.

By providing the protective terminal 208 as described above, theprotective terminal 208 are contacted with the contact terminals of therecording and/or reproducing apparatus employing the tape cartridgehaving the contact auxiliary storage medium loaded thereon, thuspreventing the contact terminals of the recording and/or reproducingapparatus from being worn out or damaged.

The tape cartridge 1, on which is loaded the auxiliary storage medium201 carrying the protective terminal 208, includes plural partitionwalls 38 a, separating the protective terminal 208 from one another, inan opening 38 bored in the rear wall 27 of the main cartridge body unit4, the protective terminal 208 of which are exposed to the outside, asshown in FIG. 13. By providing the partition wall 38 a in this manner,the contact terminals provided on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus can be contacted with the associated protective terminal 208,without the contact terminals being contacted with one another.

In order for the auxiliary storage medium 201 carrying the protectiveterminal 208 to be loaded interchangeably on the tape cartridgeemploying the contact type auxiliary storage medium, it is sufficient ifthe auxiliary storage medium 201 carrying the protective terminal 208 isof substantially the same shape as the contact type auxiliary storagemedium, it being not absolutely necessary to provide the protectiveterminal 208. Therefore, the auxiliary storage medium 31, constructed asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6, may be loaded interchangeably on the tapecartridge employing the contact type auxiliary storage medium. Moreover,by providing the wiring substrate 34 with a protective terminalcontacted with the contact terminal of the recording and/or reproducingapparatus employing the tape cartridge having loaded thereon the contacttype auxiliary storage medium, it is possible to prevent the wear ordamage to the contact terminal on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus.

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus used on the above-describedtape cartridge 1 is explained with reference to the drawings. Thisrecording and/or reproducing apparatus 60 featurestransmitting/receiving the recording medium information stored on theauxiliary storage medium using a radio path or through contact terminalswith the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tape cartridge.

This recording and/or reproducing apparatus 60 includes a chassis 64, inwhich is inserted and held the tape cartridge 1, and a chassis 64,having a pair of side plates 62, 63, adapted for movably supporting thecartridge holder 61 between the cartridge inserting/detachment positionand the cartridge loading position, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. Thisrecording and/or reproducing apparatus 60 includes a holder movementactuating mechanism 66 for causing the movement of the cartridge holder61 between the cartridge inserting/ejecting position and the cartridgeloading position, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.

On both lateral sides of the cartridge holder 61 are protuberantlyformed paired slide guide pins 67, 68. The cartridge holder 61 isarranged between the side plates 62, 63, set upright on both opposingsides of the chassis 64, by having these slide guide pins 67, 68introduced into and supported by slide guide grooves 69, 70 formed inthe side plates 62, 63. The cartridge holder 61 is moved between thecartridge loading position and the cartridge loading enabling positionby being guided as to its movement direction by the slide guide pins 67,68.

The slide guide groove 69, provided outwardly of the main cartridge bodyunit, sequentially has a horizontal guide groove 69 a and an inclinedguide groove 69 b, inclined towards a cartridge loading unit 99 formedon a bottom plate 71 of the chassis 64, as shown in FIG. 16. Theopposite side slide guide groove 70, provided on the inner side of themain cartridge body unit, sequentially includes an inclined guide groove70 a, inclined upwards from the bottom plate 71 of the chassis 64, ahorizontal guide groove 70 b and an inclined guide groove 70 c inclinedtowards the cartridge lading unit 99, as shown in FIG. 16. The cartridgeholder 61, moved from the cartridge loading/unloading position to thecartridge loading enabling position, as the cartridge holder 61 isguided by the slide guide grooves 69, 70, is elevated so that its frontside is rotated momentarily upwards about the slide guide pin 67introduced into the slide guide groove 69, and is subsequently renderedparallel to the bottom plate 71 of the chassis 64, so as to be thenlowered towards the bottom plate 72 of the chassis 64.

On the forward end side of the cartridge holder 61, that is on bothlateral sides of the front end along the tape cartridge insertingdirection, there are protuberantly formed abutment pieces 73, 73 adaptedto compress against a portion of the front end face of the tapecartridge 1 to control the inserting position of the tape cartridge 1.On the side of the bottom plate 72 of the cartridge holder 61 providedwith one of the abutment pieces 73, 73, there is formed an unlock piece93 for rotationally actuating a lock lever adapted for locking the lid10 of the tape cartridge 1 inserted into and held by the cartridgeholder 61 to unlock the lid 10.

The holder movement actuating mechanism 66 includes a pair of slideplates 75, 76, arranged on the inner lateral sides of the side plates62, 63, and a limiter plate 78 connected via a limiter spring 77 on theslide plate 75, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. In the upper edges of thepaired slide plates 75, 76 are formed rack gears 79 for extending alongthe longitudinal direction the slide plates 75, 76. The slide plates 75,76 are formed with longitudinally bored elongated holes 81 passedthrough by the supporting pins 82 set upright on the side plates 62, 63,so that the slide plates 75, 76 are supported for movement through theextent of the elongated holes 81. The paired slide plates 75, 76 areinterconnected by a driving power transmission shaft 85 carrying endgears 83, 84 meshing with the rack gears 79, 79, so that the slideplates 75, 76 are slid in synchronism with each other in the samedirection. In the upper edge of the limiter plate 78 is formed a rackgear 87 engaged by a driving gear 86 mounted on an output shaft 65 a ofthe driving motor 65 mounted on the side plate 65.

The limiter plate 78, connected through the limiter plate 78 to theslide plate 75, has an elongated opening 88 having its long axisextending in the longitudinal direction. The limiter plate 78 has thiselongated opening 88 engaged by a supporting pin 89 set upright on theslide plate 75, so that it is supported for movement relative to theslide plate 75 within the extent of the elongated opening 88. Thus, ifan excess load is applied to the limiter plate 78, the limiter plate 78permits movement of the slide plates 75, 76, as the limiter plate 78 isextended, to absorb the excess load.

In the paired slide plates 75, 76 are bored paired cam grooves 91, 92.In these cam grooves 91, 92 are inserted slide guide pins 67, 68 of thecartridge holder 61 inserted into and supported by the slide guidegrooves of the side plates 62, 63, respectively. The cain grooves 91, 92control the direction of movement of the slide guide pins 67, 68 so thatthe slide guide pins 67, 68 are moved along the slide guide grooves 69,70.

On the inner lateral side of the other side plate 63, there is provideda lid opening member 74 for rotating the lid 10 of the tape cartridge 1,descending from the cartridge loading enabling position towards thecartridge loading unit 99 against the bias of the biasing member to openthe front side of the main cartridge body unit 4 along which is extendedthe magnetic tape 7 to the expose the magnetic tape 7 to outside, asshown in FIG. 15.

On the bottom plate 72 of the chassis 64, there is provided a reelunlock member 95 for releasing the locking by the reel lock member ofthe paired tape reels 5, 6 of the tape cartridge 1 loaded on thecartridge loading unit 99. When the tape cartridge 1 is loaded on thecartridge loading unit 99, the reel unlock member 95 is inserted intothe reel lock member actuating opening 21 formed in the bottom surfaceof the main cartridge body unit 4 to move the reel lock member towardsthe back side of the main cartridge body unit 4, against the biasingforce of the biasing means, to unlock the tape reels 5, 6 to enable therotation of the tape reels 5, 6.

On the bottom plate 71 of the chassis 64, there is formed upright acartridge discriminating piece 96 of a cartridge discriminatingmechanism for discriminating the tape cartridge 1 loaded on thecartridge loading unit 99, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 16. This cartridgediscriminating piece 96 is formed by partially segmenting the bottomplate 71. When the tape cartridge 1 is loaded on the cartridge loadingunit 99, the cartridge discriminating piece 96 is intruded into adiscriminating hole 26 formed in the bottom surface of the maincartridge body unit 4 to discriminate that the tape cartridge 1 loadedon the recording and/or reproducing apparatus is one for data recording.If the tape cartridge not having the discriminating hole 26 is loaded,the cartridge discriminating piece 96 compresses against the bottomsurface of the main cartridge body unit to inhibit further loading ofthe tape cartridge to control the mistaken loading. Meanwhile, thecartridge discriminating piece 96 has its distal end warped slightly toprovide an inclined portion 96 a in keeping with the locus of movementof the tape cartridge loaded as it is held by the cartridge holder 61.

On the bottom surface 71 of the chassis 64, there are formed a pair ofheight setting pins 97, 97 adapted to support the bottom surface of thetape cartridge 1 loaded on the cartridge loading unit 99 and a pair ofpositioning pins 98, 98 engaged in the positioning holes 19, 20 providedin the bottom surface of the tape cartridge 1.

The cartridge loading unit 99 is provided with an auxiliary recordingand/or reproducing mechanism 101 for reading out the recording mediuminformation recorded on the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tapecartridge 1 or reading out the recording medium information stored onthe auxiliary storage medium 31, as shown in FIGS. 17 to 19. Thisauxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism 101 is provided in thevicinity of the insertion/ejection opening 71 of the recording and/orreproducing apparatus 60, as shown in FIG. 17. That is, the recordingand/or reproducing mechanism 101 is provided facing the auxiliarystorage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1 so as not to obstruct theloading operation of the magnetic tape 7.

The auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism 101 has a base 103for mounting a substantially L-shaped connector 102, as shown in FIGS.17 to 19. The base 103 has in its end a through-hole 105 passed throughby a pivot 104 provided on the chassis 64, and is rotatably carried by ashaft 104 passed through the through-hole 105. When the tape cartridge 1is loaded on the base 103, the base 103 is rotated so that the connector102 faces the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1. Theconnector 102 is to an arm of the base 103.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus 60 is configured for enablingthe use of a tape cartridge employing a contact type auxiliary storagemedium. Thus, the connector 102 is provided with plural contact pointterminals 106 which are intruded from the opening 38 into contact withthe contact terminals when the conventional disc cartridge having thecontact terminal in the auxiliary storage medium is loaded on thecartridge loading unit 99 of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus60. The contact terminal 106 is formed of an elastic electricallyconductive metal material and is substantially chevron-shaped so as tobe contacted with the contact terminal 36 of the tape cartridge 1. Anumber of contact point terminals 106 corresponding to the number of thecontact terminals 36 of the tape cartridge 1 are provided and used forwriting and for read-out of the recording medium information.

If the tape cartridge having loaded thereon an auxiliary storage medium201 having the protective terminal 208 is loaded on the recording and/orreproducing apparatus 60, the contact point terminal 106 is contactedwith the protective terminal 208.

The base 103 is provided with a wiring substrate 107 having an electriccircuit constituting the transmission/reception unit 108 fortransmission/reception with the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tapecartridge 1, as shown in the block circuit diagram of FIG. 21. Thewiring substrate 107 is provided with a coil-shaped antenna 109similarly constituting a transmission/reception unit in keeping with theantenna 37 of the transmission/reception unit provided in the auxiliarystorage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1. This antenna 109 is providedat such a position that, when the tape cartridge 1 is loaded inposition, the antenna 109 faces the antenna 37 provided on the tapecartridge 1. This wiring substrate 107 is provided with a number ofelectrodes 106 a, contacted with the contact point terminals 106,corresponding to the number of the contact point terminals 106.

Referring to FIG. 21, this transmission/reception unit 108 includes acentral processing unit (CPU) 110, controlling the entire system, amodulator 112 for modulating the recording medium information, anamplifier 113, for amplifying the recording medium information fordriving the antenna 109, a protection circuit 114 for protectingrespective circuits, an amplifier 115 for amplifying reception signalsfrom the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1, and ademodulator 116 for demodulating the modulated reception signals forreproducing the recording medium information stored in the auxiliarystorage medium 31.

For storing the recording medium information in the auxiliary storagemedium 31 of the disc cartridge 1, that is for storing the updatedrecording medium information in the auxiliary storage medium 31, the CPU110 routes the updated recording medium information through aninterfacing circuit 111 to a modulator 112, which then modulates thecarrier with the recording medium information to route the resultingmodulated signal to the amplifier 113. The amplifier amplifies thismodulated signal to drive the antenna 109, that is causes the current toflow in the antenna 109. In this manner, the electrical wavecorresponding to the recording medium information is transmitted to theantenna 37 of the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1.

When reading out the recording medium information stored in theauxiliary storage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1, the antenna 109feeds the amplifier 115 through the protection circuit 114, which is acircuit for protecting the respective circuits of the auxiliary storagemedium from e.g., an excessive electrical wave. The amplifier 115amplifies the reception signals to send the amplified signal to thedemodulator 116. The demodulator 116 detects the amplified receptionsignals to route the reproduced signal through the interfacing circuit111 to the CPU 110.

In view of the actual use state of the tape cartridge 1, the auxiliarystorage medium 31 is not provided with an enclosed battery, such thatthe power for operating the respective circuits is routed from therecording and/or reproducing apparatus 60. That is, for feeding theauxiliary storage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1 with power, thetransmission/reception unit 108 feeds the auxiliary storage medium 31with power in accordance with the non-contact system of overlaying themodulated signal and the power to transmit the overlaid signal. In moredetail, if amplitude modulation is used as a pre-set modulation system,the modulator 112 and the amplifier 113 are made up of a sole amplitudemodulation and amplification circuit 120, as shown in FIG. 22, with theamplitude modulation and amplification circuit 120 being made up of adifferential amplification circuit comprised of transistors Tr₁, Tr₂.One of the inputs of the differential amplification circuit, that is thebase of the transistor Tr₁, is fed with the carrier wave, with the otherinput, that is the base of the transistor Tr₂, being grounded in an ACfashion through a capacitor and a resistor. Across a junction of twoemitters of the transistors Tr₁, Tr₂ and a grounding point is connecteda transistor Tr₃, the base of which is fed with data from theinterfacing circuit 111. The amplitude modulation and amplificationcircuit 120 amplitude-modulates the carrier oscillator carrier, notshown, with data by the transistor Tr₃, whilst the produced modulatedsignal is amplified by the transistors Tr₁, Tr₂. The present inventionis not limited to this illustrative embodiment, and a variety ofmodulation systems, such as PSK modulation or QAM modulation, forexample, may be used as the modulation system. The antenna 109 transmitsthe data to the transmission/reception unit 40 of the auxiliary storagemedium 31 provided on the tape cartridge 1. If the data is received bythe antenna 37 of the auxiliary storage medium 31, the rectifier circuit48 of the transmission/reception unit 40 full-wave rectifies and smoothsthe reception signals to generate a DC voltage required by the auxiliarystorage medium 31 to feed the voltage to respective recording and/orreproducing circuits of the auxiliary storage medium 31, as shown inFIG. 9.

The wiring substrate 107 is provided with a power source unit 121 forsupplying the power to the auxiliary storage medium of the tapecartridge when the tape cartridge having the contact point terminals isloaded on the auxiliary storage medium. The power source unit 121 feedsthe power to the to the respective electrical circuits of the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus, while feeding the power to the auxiliarystorage medium of a conventional tape cartridge through the contactpoint terminals 106.

When the tape cartridge 1 has been moved to the loading position by theholder movement actuating mechanism 66 as will be explained subsequentlyin detail, the auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism 101faces the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1, such thatthe auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism 101 is now able totransmit/receive the recording medium information with the auxiliarystorage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1 or with the auxiliary storagemedium of the tape cartridge comprising the conventional auxiliarystorage medium provided with the contact point terminals. The auxiliaryrecording and/or reproducing mechanism 101, having thetransmission/reception unit 108 and the contact terminal 106, is ablenot only to exchange signals with the auxiliary storage medium 31 of thetape cartridge 1, but also to exchange signals with the auxiliarystorage medium of the conventional tape cartridge.

Meanwhile, if the recording medium information is read out by theauxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism 101 by the auxiliarystorage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1, the magnetic tape 7, extendedthrough the recess 13 of the tape cartridge 1, is wound in position by aloading mechanism in a rotary magnetic head device, as shown in FIG. 23.The magnetic tape 7, wound in position in the rotary magnetic headdevice 136, is run in sliding contact with the rotary magnetic headdevice 136. The rotary magnetic head device 136, adapted for recordingand/or reproducing information signals, includes a tape guide drum 138,made up of a rotary drum, carrying a magnetic head 137, and a stationarydrum 138, mounted on the underside of the rotary drum coaxiallytherewith. The tape guide drum 138 is run in rotation by a drivingmotor, arranged on the underside of the tape guide drum 138, to run themagnetic head 137 in rotation. The magnetic head 137, mounted on therotary drum, is made up of a pair of recording heads 137 a, 137 a,adapted for recording information signals on the magnetic tape 7, and apair of playback heads 137 b, 137 b adapted for reproducing theinformation signals recorded on the magnetic tape 7. In this rotarymagnetic head device 136, the magnetic tape 7 is run obliquely at apre-set angle. In the vicinity of the rotary magnetic head device 136,there is arranged a cleaning head 139, which is kept in sliding contactwith the running magnetic tape 7 to wipe off impurities affixed to thesurface of the magnetic tape 7, such as dust and dirt or fingerprints.The recording and/or reproducing apparatus 60 is supervised by acontroller 140, as now explained, to record information signals on themagnetic tape 7 by the rotary magnetic head device 136 and to reproduceinformation signals recorded on the magnetic tape 7.

Referring to FIG. 23, the controller 140 includes an SCSI interface 141,for inputting/outputting information signals, a companding circuit 142for companding the information signals inputted from the SCSI interface141, and a buffer controller 143 for transiently storing the signalsfrom the companding circuit 142. The controller 140 also includes an ECCmodem circuit 144 for appending error correction codes to signalssupplied from the buffer controller 143 and for doingmodulation/demodulation, and an RF amplifier 145 for amplifying signalsfrom the ECC modem circuit 144 for routing the amplified signals to therotary magnetic head device 136.

The SCSI interface 141 is fed with data signals from an externalequipment, such as a host computer 135. The SCSI interface 141 routesthe input signal to the companding circuit 142. The SCSI interface 141routes signals from the companding circuit 142 to an external equipment,such as a host computer 135.

The companding circuit 142 compresses signals supplied thereto from theSCSI interface 14, while expanding signals from the buffer controller143. If the signals supplied from the SCSI interface 141 are alreadycompressed, the companding circuit 142 routes the signals supplied fromthe SCSI interface 141 to the buffer controller 143 without compression.On the other hand, if there is no necessity of expanding signals routedto the SCSI interface 141, the companding circuit 142 routes the signalsfrom the buffer controller 143 to the SCSI interface 141 withoutperforming the signal compression. These settings for not performing thecompression/expansion may be previously set by the user or referred toby the system controller which will be explained subsequently.

The buffer controller 143 causes the compressed signals from thecompanding circuit 142 or the signals from the ECC modem circuit 144 tobe temporarily stored in the buffer memory 143 a. The ECC modem circuit144 appends error correction codes to the data in the buffer controller143, while modulating the data in meeting with magnetic recording toroute the data to an RF amplifier 145. The RF amplifier 145 amplifiessignals from the ECC modem circuit 144 to route the amplified signals tothe magnetic head 137.

The controller 140 includes a system controller 146 adapted forcontrolling the entire apparatus. The system controller 146 controls theSCSI interface 141, companding circuit 142, buffer controller 143, ECCmodem circuit 144 and the RF amplifier 145, while also controlling thedriving motor 64 constituting the aforementioned holder movementactuating mechanism 66. That is, if a detection circuit 148 detects thatthe tape cartridge 1 has been loaded on the cartridge holder 61,detection signals are routed from the detection circuit 148 to thesystem controller 146 to drive a driving motor 65. If a detectioncircuit 149 detects that the tape cartridge 1 has been transported tothe loading position, the detection signal is supplied by the detectioncircuit 149 to halt the driving motor 65.

The system controller 146 also controls a loading motor 147 constitutinga loading mechanism operating for loading the magnetic tape 7 from thetape cartridge 1 lying at the loading position. If the tape cartridge 1is at the loading position, and the user performs the recording orreproducing operation, the system controller 146 causes the loadingmotor 147 to be loaded in position and placed around the tape guide drum138. The system controller 146 drives the driving motor constituting therotary magnetic head device 136 to run the rotary magnetic head device136 in rotation.

The system controller 146, controlling the aforementioned auxiliaryrecording and/or reproducing mechanism 101, is fed with the recordingmedium information from the auxiliary recording and/or reproducingmechanism 101. The system controller 146 drives the auxiliary recordingand/or reproducing mechanism 101 when the tape cartridge is at theloading position. That is, when the tape cartridge 1 is loaded inposition, and the motor driving circuit 147 is driven for pulling outthe magnetic tape 7 from the main cartridge body unit 4, the systemcontroller 146 drives the auxiliary recording and/or reproducingmechanism 101. If the readout of the recording medium information comesto a close, and the loading of the magnetic tape 7 also comes to aclose, the system controller 146 controls the rotary magnetic headdevice 136 based on the recording medium information from the auxiliaryrecording and/or reproducing mechanism 101. For example, if the numberof times of replay of the magnetic tape 7 constituting the recordingmedium information exceeds a pre-set value, the system controller 146causes the magnetic tape 7 to be cleaned by a cleaning head 139 providedin proximity to the rotary magnetic head device 136. If the recording orreplay comes to a close, the system controller 146 updates the recordingmedium information, during the unloading operation of accommodating themagnetic tape 7 placed in position in the rotary magnetic head device136 in the main cartridge body unit 4, to route the updated recordingmedium information to the auxiliary recording and/or reproducingmechanism 101. Since the system controller 146 performs readout orupdating of the recording medium information during the loading orunloading of the magnetic tape 7, it is possible to shorten the timeuntil recording and/or reproduction.

If the system controller 146 detects the loading of the tape cartridge 1in the cartridge holder 61, the controller 140 actuates the drivingmotor 65 to operate the holder movement actuating mechanism 66 to causethe holder movement actuating mechanism 66 to move the tape cartridge 1to the loading position. If the tape cartridge 1 has been moved to theloading position, the system controller 146 causes the recording mediuminformation to be read out from the auxiliary storage medium 31 of thetape cartridge 1. If the recording and/or reproduction is executed, thesystem controller 146 drives the loading motor 147 to put the magnetictape 7 in position in the rotary magnetic head device 136, by theloading mechanism, to run the tape guide drum in rotation. At this time,the system controller 146 controls the rotary magnetic head device 136etc. based on the recording medium information read out from theauxiliary storage medium 31.

The information signals, inputted from the host computer 135 through theSCSI interface 141, are compressed in the companding circuit 142 andthence routed to the buffer controller 143. The signals stored in thebuffer controller 143 are supplied to the ECC modem circuit 144 wherethe error correction codes are appended for modulation. The resultingsignals are routed to recording heads 137 a, 137 a of the magnetic head137, through the RF amplifier 145, where a magnetic field is applied tothe magnetic tape 7 to recording the information signals.

When reading out the information signals recorded on the magnetic tape7, the information signals are read out through the playback heads 137b, 137 b and amplified by the RF amplifier 145. The resulting signalsare demodulated and corrected for errors in the ECC modem circuit 144.The resulting signals are transiently stored in the buffer controller143 and expanded in the companding circuit 142 so as to be routed overthe SCSI interface 141 to the host computer 135.

If the number of times of replay of the magnetic tape 7 constituting therecording medium information exceeds a preferred embodiment-set numberof times, the system controller 146 causes the cleaning head 139 toclean the magnetic tape 7.

When the tape cartridge 1 is to be taken out from the recording and/orreproducing apparatus 60, the system controller 146 first causes theloading motor 147 to be driven to cause the loading mechanism toaccommodate the magnetic tape 7 put in place in the rotary magnetic headdevice 136 in the main cartridge body unit 4. When the loading of themagnetic tape 7 comes to a close, the system controller 146 actuates thedriving motor 65 to cause the holder movement actuating mechanism 66 totransport the tape cartridge 1 to the take-out position.

When the tape cartridge 1 is loaded on the cartridge loading unit 99 ofthe recording and/or reproducing apparatus 60, the tape cartridge 1 isintroduced into the cartridge holder 61, with the lid side as anintruding end. At this time, the tape cartridge 1 is intruded until itsforward edge compresses against the abutment pieces 73, 73. The tapecartridge 1 is held in position in readiness for being intruded into thecartridge holder 61. At this time, the tape cartridge 1 is thrust andsupported by a spring plate 94 provided on the ceiling plate 93 of thecartridge holder 61.

When the tape cartridge is intruded into the cartridge holder 61, thelid 10 is unlocked by the lid unlock piece. The lid is enabled to berotated against the force of bias of the biasing member.

If the insertion and holding of the tape cartridge 1 by the cartridgeholder 61 is detected by the detection element 148 shown in FIG. 23, thedriving motor 65 starts to run in the forward direction. If the drivingmotor 65 is run in this manner, the driving power of the motor istransmitted to the limiter plate 78 engaged with the driving gear 86.Since the limiter plate 78 is connected through the limiter spring 77 tothe slide plate 75, the slide plate is slid towards the inside of themain body portion of the apparatus, in unison with the limiter plate 78,in the direction indicated by arrow P in FIG. 16. The other slide plate76, connected to the slide plate 75 through the driving powertransmission shaft 85, is slid in synchronism in the direction indicatedby arrow P in FIG. 16.

If the paired slide plates 75, 76 are slid in the direction indicated byarrow P in FIG. 16, the cartridge holder 61 is moved in the directionindicated by arrow P in FIG. 16, by the slide guide pins 67, 68 beingguided by the slide guide grooves 69, 70. If the cartridge holder 61 ismoved in the direction indicated by arrow P in FIG. 16, the other slideguide pin 68 is guided by a cam grove 92 provided in the slide plate 75,so that the cartridge holder 61 is moved upwards under guidance by theinclined guide groove 70 a of the opposite side slide guide groove 70.At this time, the slide guide pin 67 is positioned in the horizontalguide groove 69 a of the slide guide groove 69 and hence is moved in thehorizontal direction. Thus, the cartridge holder 61 is pivoted so thatits forward end is raised about the slide guide groove 69 as the centerof rotation. The tape cartridge 1, held by the cartridge holder 61, ismoved in the horizontal direction as indicated by arrow P in FIG. 16,and is then rotated so that its lower end on the back surface side islowered towards the bottom plate 71 of the chassis 64 as indicated byarrow Y in FIG. 24. At this time, the distal ends of the positioning pin98 and the cartridge discriminating piece 96 are intruded into thepositioning hole and the discriminating hole 26 formed in the tapecartridge 1, respectively.

If the driving motor 65 is driven so that the paired slide plates 75, 76are slid in the direction indicated by arrow P in FIG. 16, the slideguide pin 67, intruded into the slide guide groove 69, gets to theinclined guide groove 69 b, from the horizontal guide groove 69 a, asshown in FIG. 25, so as to be moved by the guide groove 91 provided inthe slide plate 75, such that the slide guide pin 67 is lowered towardsthe bottom plate 71 of the chassis 64, under guidance by the inclinedguide groove 69 b. At this time, the opposite side slide guide pin 68 ispositioned in an area from the horizontal guide groove 70 b to theinclined guide groove 70 c, so that the cartridge holder 61 is pivoted,about the other slide guide pin 68 as center, so that the rear end ofthe cartridge holder 61 is lowered. The positioning pin 98 is intrudedinto the positioning hole 20 provided in the tape cartridge 1, whilstthe cartridge discriminating piece 96 is intruded into thediscriminating hole 26, as shown in FIG. 25. At this time, the tapecartridge 1, held by the cartridge bolder 61, is rotated so that itslower back surface end descends towards the bottom plate 71 of thechassis 64 in the direction indicated by arrow Y in FIG. 25. Since thedistal end of the cartridge discriminating piece 96 is an inclinedportion 96 a which is inclined along the locus of movement of the tapecartridge 1, the cartridge discriminating piece 96 is smoothly intrudedinto the cartridge discriminating hole 26 along the path of movement ofthe tape cartridge 1.

If the driving motor 65 is further driven from the state shown in FIG.25, such that the paired slide plates 75, 76 are slid in the directionindicated by arrow P in FIG. 25, the slide guide pins 67, 68 are movedalong cam grooves 91, 92, as shown in FIG. 26, so as to be loweredtowards the bottom plate 71 of the chassis 64, under guidance by theinclined guide grooves 69 c, 70 c, extending towards the lower sides ofthe slide guide grooves 69, 70. Since the cartridge holder 61 descendsfrom the state in which the forward end thereof is inclined upwards, asshown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the cartridge holder 61 is lowered so as to berotated in the direction indicated by arrow R in FIG. 25, about theslide guide pin 67 as the center of rotation.

When the cartridge holder 61 is lowered so as to be rotated in thedirection indicated by arrow R in FIG. 25, the lower edge of the lid 10of the tape cartridge 1 compresses against the lid opening member 74. Asthe cartridge holder 61 is lowered, the lid 10 is thrust by the lidopening member 74 and hence is rotated against the bias of the biasingmember to open the front surface of the main cartridge body unit 4.Since the tape cartridge 1 is lowered at the same time as it is rotatedagainst the bias of the biasing member, the lid 10, rotationally mountedon the main cartridge body unit 4, can be positively rotated by thestationary lid opening member 74.

Also, when the cartridge holder 61 is lowered at the same time as it isrotated in the direction indicated by arrow R in FIG. 25, the reelunlock member 95 is intruded into the reel lock member actuating opening21 provided in the bottom surface of the tape cartridge 1, as shown inFIG. 26, to release the lock of the tape reels 5, 6 by the reel lockmechanism to enable the rotation of the tape reels 5, 6.

If the driving motor 65 is further driven forward, such that the slideplates 74, 75 are slid in the direction indicated by arrow P in FIG. 26,the cartridge holder 61 is lowered to the lowermost position, as shownin FIG. 27, and is loaded on the cartridge loading unit 99, as the tapecartridge 1 is supported in position by the height setting pins 97, 97and the positioning pins 98, 98. At this time, the cartridgediscriminating piece 96 is intruded into the inside of the maincartridge body unit 4 through the discriminating hole 26.

When the cartridge holder 61 has been lowered to the cartridge loadingunit 99, the lid 10 of the tape cartridge 1 is rotated to the positionof fully opening the front surface of the main cartridge body unit 4 bythe lid opening member 74.

When the tape cartridge 1 is transported to the loading position, thedetection element 149 detects that the tape cartridge 1 is in theloading position to route the detection signals to the system controller146. When the tape cartridge 1 is loaded on the cartridge loading unit99 provided on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus 60, theloading mechanism provided on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus60 is intruded into the loading recess 13 provided in the front surfaceof the main cartridge body unit 4 to pull out the magnetic tape 7 fromthe main cartridge body unit 4 to load it on a pre-set tape runningpath.

At this time, the antenna 109, constituting the transmission/receptionunit 108 of the auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism 101,faces the antenna 37 of the transmission/reception unit 40 of theauxiliary storage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1, loaded in position,to permit transmission/reception of the recording medium information ina non-contact fashion. If the tape cartridge loaded is one comprising anauxiliary storage medium provided with the contact point terminals, thecontact point terminals of the auxiliary storage medium of the tapecartridge are contacted with the contact point terminals 106 of theauxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism 101 of the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus 60 to permit transmission/reception of therecording medium information.

Meanwhile, if a tape cartridge 100, not having the discriminating hole26, used exclusively for recording video or audio signals, is loaded inthe recording and/or reproducing apparatus 60 provided with thecartridge discriminating piece 96 as shown in FIG. 29, the cartridgeholder 61 is moved in the direction indicated by arrow P in FIG. 16. Ifthe tape cartridge 300, held by the cartridge holder 61, is moved in thehorizontal direction, as indicated by arrow X in FIG. 29, andsubsequently rotted as it is lowered towards the bottom plate 71 of thechassis 64, as indicated by arrow Y in FIG. 29, the distal end of thecartridge discriminating piece 96 compresses against the bottom surfaceof a main cartridge body unit 301. The tape cartridge 300 is prohibitedfrom being lowered further and from being loaded on the cartridgeloading unit 99.

Meanwhile, the system controller 146, shown in FIG. 23, controls therecording and/or reproducing apparatus 60, since the time of insertionof the tape cartridge through the insertion/ejection opening of therecording and/or reproducing apparatus 60 until recording and/orreproduction of the magnetic tape 7, in the following manner. That is,if, at step S1 in FIGS. 23 and 30, the tape cartridge 1 is insertedthrough the insertion/ejection opening of the tape cartridge 1 of therecording and/or reproducing apparatus, the system controller 146 atstep S2 verifies whether or not the tape cartridge 1 has been held bythe cartridge holder 61. That is, if the system controller 146 detectsthat the detection element 148 provided in the vicinity of theinsertion/ejection opening of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus60 is held by the cartridge holder 61, and the corresponding detectionsignal is routed to the system controller 146, the latter advances tostep S3. If this detection signal is not furnished, the processing ofstep S2 is repeated.

The system controller 146 at step S3 drives the driving motor 65 of theholder movement actuating mechanism 66 to transport the tape cartridge 1by the holder movement actuating mechanism 66 from theinsertion/ejection position of insertion/ejection of the tape cartridge1 to the loading position of lading the tape cartridge 1, in a manner asdescribed above.

The system controller 146 at step S4 verifies whether or not the tapecartridge 1 has been moved to the loading position. That is, if thedetection element 149 provided in the vicinity of the loading positionof the tape cartridge 1 detects that the tape cartridge 1 has beentransported to the loading position, and the corresponding detectionsignal is sent to the system controller 146, the system controlleradvances to steps S5 and S6. If the detection signal is not furnished,the processing of step S4 is repeated. Meanwhile, if the tape cartridgeloaded on the recording and/or reproducing apparatus 60 provided withthe cartridge discriminating piece 96 is the tape cartridge 300 nothaving the discriminating hole 26 and which is used exclusively forrecording audio or video signals, the distal end of the cartridgediscriminating piece 96 compresses against the bottom surface of themain cartridge body unit 301. Thus, the system controller 146 reversesthe operation of the driving motor 65 to eject the tape cartridge 300from the recording and/or reproducing apparatus 60.

The system controller 146 causes the recording medium information to beread out at step S5. That is, a command for reading out the recordingmedium information from the transmission/reception unit 108 of theauxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism 101 of the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus 60 is routed to the auxiliary storagemedium 31 of the tape cartridge 1, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 21. Based onthis command, the control circuit 44 of the auxiliary storage medium 31of the tape cartridge 1 reads out the necessary data from the memory 45to furnish it to the modulator 46. The modulator then modulates thecarrier with the read-out data to route the modulated signal to theamplifier 47. The amplifier amplifies the modulated signal to drive theantenna 37 to transmit the recording medium information to thetransmission/reception unit 108 of the auxiliary recording and/orreproducing mechanism 101 provided on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus. The antenna 109 provided on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus 60 routes the received recording medium information throughthe protection circuit 114 to the amplifier 115. The amplifier amplifiesthis reception signal to route the amplified signal to the demodulator116. The demodulator detects the amplified reception signal to reproducethe recording medium information to route the information through theinterfacing circuit 111 to the CPU 110 and then to the system controller146.

If the tape cartridge loaded is a conventional one including anauxiliary storage medium carrying the contact point terminals, therecording medium information stored in the auxiliary storage medium ofthe conventional tape cartridge is transmitted through the contact pointterminals 106 of the auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism101.

Simultaneously, the system controller 146 at step S6 drives the loadingmotor 147, constituting the loading mechanism, loading the magnetic tape7 from the tape cartridge 1 at the loaded position, to cause the loadingmechanism to load the magnetic tape 7 to wind it around the tape guidedrum 138, as shown in FIG. 30.

The system controller 146 at step S7 drives the rotary magnetic headdevice 136 to record the information signals on the magnetic tape 7 andto reproduce the information signals recorded on the magnetic tape 7.That is, if the information signals are recorded on the magnetic tape 7,the information signals inputted from the host computer 135 through theSCSI interface 141 are compressed by the companding circuit 142 and thensupplied to the buffer controller 143, as shown in FIG. 23. The signalsstored in the buffer controller 143 are routed to the ECC modem circuit144 for appendage of error correction codes and modulation. Themodulated signals are sent through the RF amplifier 145 to the magneticheads 137 a, 137 a, making up the magnetic head 137, where the magneticfield is applied to the magnetic tape 7 to record the informationsignals.

In reproducing the information signals recorded on the magnetic tape 7,information signals are read out through the playback heads 137 b, 137 bso as to be amplified by the RF amplifier 145. The amplified signals aredemodulated by the ECC modern circuit 144 for error correction. Theerror-corrected signals are transiently stored in the buffer controller143 and expanded by the companding circuit 142 so as to be suppliedthrough the SCSI interface 141 to the host computer 135.

If the number of times of replay of the magnetic tape 7 constituting therecording medium information exceeds a pre-set value, the systemcontroller 146 causes the cleaning head 139 to clean the magnetic tape7, based on the recording medium information read out from the auxiliarystorage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1.

When ejecting the tape cartridge 1 loaded on the cartridge holder 61,the system controller 146 controls the recording and/or reproducingapparatus 60 in the following manner. That is, the system controller 146at step S11 drives the loading motor 147 to cause the loading mechanismto accommodate the magnetic tape, arranged in position in the rotarymagnetic head device 136, in the main cartridge body unit 4.

The system controller 146 at step S12 updates the recording mediuminformation read out to the system controller 146, based on the resultsof recording and/or reproduction of the magnetic tape 7. Specifically,the recording medium information is updated as to the number of times ofrecording or reproduction and the contents newly recorded on themagnetic tape 7.

The system controller 146 at step S12 transmits the recording mediuminformation updated in the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tapecartridge 1. Specifically, the system controller 146 feeds the updatedrecording medium information to the CPU 110. The CPU then routes theupdated recording medium information through the interfacing circuit 111to the modulator 112 which then modulates the carrier with the recordingmedium information in accordance with a pre-set modulation system toroute the resulting modulated signal to the amplifier 113. The amplifieramplifies the modulated signals to drive the antenna 109. The antenna 37of the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tape cartridge 1 routes thereception signal through the protection circuit 41 to the amplifier 42,which then amplifies the reception signal to route the amplifiedreception signal to the demodulator 43. The modulator performs controlof memorizing the recording medium information in the memory 45 toupdate the recording medium information.

If the loaded tape cartridge is a conventional tape cartridge having anauxiliary storage medium carrying contact point terminals, the updatedrecording medium information is transmitted to the auxiliary storagemedium of the tape cartridge through the contact point terminals 106 ofthe auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism 101.

When the updating of the recording medium information comes to a close,the system controller 146 at step S13 drives the driving motor 65 of theholder movement actuating mechanism 66 to actuate the holder movementactuating mechanism 66 to transport the tape cartridge 1 to the ejectingposition. The tape cartridge 1, transported to the insertion/ejectionopening of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus 60, is taken outat step Shutter member 14 by the user.

With the above-described recording and/or reproducing apparatus 60, inwhich, when the auxiliary recording and/or reproducing mechanism 101 ismoved by the holder movement actuating mechanism 66 to the tapecartridge loading position, it faces the auxiliary storage medium 31 ofthe tape cartridge 1, the recording medium information can betransmitted/received reliably. Also, since the auxiliary recordingand/or reproducing mechanism 101 has the transmission/reception unit 108for transmitting/receiving the recording medium information over theradio path, and the contact point terminals 106, the recording mediuminformation can be inputted/outputted even if the tape cartridge isloaded in a conventional tape cartridge having the auxiliary storagemedium carrying the contact point terminals. Also, since the systemcontroller 146 executes transmission/reception of the recording mediuminformation during loading and unloading of the magnetic tape 7, it ispossible to shorten the operating time.

In the above-described recording and/or reproducing apparatus, therecording medium information can be inputted/outputted even if the tapecartridge loaded is such a one having the auxiliary storage mediumcarrying the contact point terminals. Alternatively, the recordingand/or reproducing apparatus may be configured so that thetransmission/reception of the recording medium information occursexclusively over a radio path.

In this recording and/or reproducing apparatus in which the recordingmedium information is transmitted/received exclusively over the radiopath, the contact point terminals 106 of the auxiliary recording and/orreproducing mechanism 101 may be dispensed with.

With the recording and/or reproducing apparatus 60, employing only thetape cartridge 1 adapted to transmit or receive the recording mediuminformation solely over the radio path, the substantially L-shapedconnector 102 is mounted on the base 103 for facing the back side of theloaded tape cartridge 1. Since there is no necessity in this case toprovide contact point terminals on the recording and/or reproducingapparatus 60 which are protruded into the tape cartridge 1 into contactwith the auxiliary storage medium 31 loaded in the tape cartridge 1, theconnector 102 may be fixedly mounted on the base 103.

This connector 102 is provided with the wiring substrate 107 carrying anelectrical circuit constituting the transmission/reception unit 108 fortransmission/reception with the auxiliary storage medium 31 of the tapecartridge 1 over a radio path. This wiring substrate 107 is providedwith a coil-shaped antenna 109 constituting a transmission/receptionunit in association with the antenna 37 similarly constituting thetransmission/reception unit provided on the auxiliary storage medium 31of the tape cartridge 1. This antenna is provided facing the antenna 37of the tape cartridge when the tape cartridge 1 is loaded in position.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to atape cartridge having housed therein a magnetic tape and a recordingand/or reproducing apparatus employing this tape cartridge. The presentinvention may also be applied to a disc cartridge having housed thereina magnetic disc employing a flexible disc substrate or a disc cartridgehaving housed therein a hard disc employing a disc substrate formed ofmetal or tough material of a certain thickness and a recording and/orreproducing apparatus employing the disc cartridge as a recordingmedium. In addition, the present invention may be applied to a disccartridge having housed therein an optical disc or a magneto-opticaldisc and to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus employing the disccartridge as a recording medium with merits comparable to those obtainedwhen using the above-mentioned tape cartridge.

Industrial Applicability

In the recording medium device according to the present invention, theauxiliary storage medium for inputting/outputting the recording mediuminformation between it and the auxiliary recording and/or reproducingunit of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus is able to input oroutput the recording medium information in a non-contact fashion withthe auxiliary recording and/or reproducing unit. The result is that thecontact point terminals provided in the auxiliary storage medium may beprevented from being deteriorated due to repeated contact thereof withthe contact point terminals of the auxiliary recording and/orreproducing unit of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, incontrast from the conventional recording medium device having theauxiliary storage medium carrying the contact point terminals, to assurereliable inputting/outputting of the recording medium information.

Also, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention, in which the auxiliary recording and/or reproducingmechanism has a transmission/reception unit for inputting/outputting therecording medium information in a non-contact fashion with the auxiliarystorage medium of the recording medium device and contact pointterminals contacting with the contact point terminals of theconventional recording medium device, can be used with both therecording medium device having the wireless type auxiliary storagemedium and the recording medium device having the contact type auxiliarystorage medium.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording medium device, comprising: a maincartridge body unit for housing therein a magnetic tape recording mediumthat is coiled across a pair of tape reels and upon which are recordedinformation signals; and an auxiliary storage medium having a storageunit in which to store recording medium information concerning therecording medium and a transmission/reception unit for inputting therecording medium information from and outputting the recording mediuminformation to a recording and reproducing apparatus in a non-contactfashion, wherein the storage unit and the transmission/reception unitare arranged on a same substrate; the auxiliary storage medium isarranged in the main cartridge body unit so that thetransmission/reception unit of the substrate carrying the storage unitalong with the transmission/reception unit is exposed to an exteriorthrough an opening provided in at least one lateral surface excluding afront surface operating as an intruding end of the main cartridge bodyunit into an inside of the recording and reproducing apparatus; thetransmission/reception unit includes a protection circuit, amplifiers, acontrol circuit, a memory, a modulator, a rectifier circuit, and anantenna for inputting the recording medium information to and outputtingthe recording medium information from the recording and reproducingapparatus; the auxiliary storage medium is operated by driving signalssupplied from the transmission/reception unit provided on the recordingand reproducing apparatus; and the auxiliary storage medium is loadablein the main cartridge body unit such that it is positioned correspondingto a position of a contact type auxiliary storage medium that performstransmission and reception via auxiliary recording medium contact pointterminals in contact with recording and reproducing apparatus contactpoint terminals located in the recording and reproducing apparatus. 2.An auxiliary storage medium, comprising: a storage unit in whichrecording medium information concerning a recording medium housed in amain cartridge body unit of a recording medium device is stored; and atransmission/reception unit having an antenna for inputting therecording medium information to and outputting the recording mediuminformation from a recording and reproducing apparatus in a non-contactfashion, wherein the storage unit and the transmission/reception unitare arranged on a same substrate; the auxiliary storage medium isloadable in the main cartridge body unit such that it is positionedcorresponding to a position of a contact type auxiliary storage mediumthat performs transmission and reception via auxiliary storage mediumcontact point terminals in contact with recording and reproducingapparatus contact point terminals located in the recording andreproducing apparatus; and the auxiliary storage medium is formed insubstantially a same outer shape as the contact type auxiliary storagemedium.
 3. An auxiliary storage medium, comprising: a first auxiliarysubstrate having a storage unit; a second auxiliary substrate carrying aprimary coil constituting a transmission/reception unit; a thirdauxiliary substrate carrying a secondary coil constituting thetransmission/reception unit in cooperation with the primary coil; afourth auxiliary substrate carrying a protective terminal contacted withcontact point terminals provided on a recording and reproducingapparatus for protecting the contact point terminals, wherein the first,second, and third auxiliary substrates are layered and unified; theauxiliary storage medium is loadable in a main cartridge body unit suchthat it is positioned corresponding to a position of a contact typeauxiliary storage medium that performs transmission and reception viaauxiliary storage medium contact point terminals in contact with therecording and reproducing apparatus contact point terminals located inthe recording and reproducing apparatus; and the auxiliary storagemedium is formed in substantially a same outer shape as the contact typeauxiliary storage medium.
 4. A recording and reproducing apparatuscomprising: a loading unit on which is loaded a recording medium device;a recording and reproducing unit of r recording and reproducing arecording medium when the recording medium device is loaded on theloading unit; a transmission/reception unit for performing non-contactinputting and outputting of recording medium information with anauxiliary storage medium having stored therein recording mediuminformation concerning the recording medium of the recording mediumdevice; an auxiliary recording and reproducing unit arranged facing theauxiliary storage medium when the recording medium device is loaded onthe loading unit; and contact point terminals for contacting contactpoint terminals provided on the auxiliary storage medium of an otherrecording medium device, wherein the auxiliary recording and reproducingunit includes a transmission/reception unit for effectingtransmission/reception of the recording medium information with theauxiliary storage medium and for furnishing a driving signal for drivingthe auxiliary storage medium; and the transmission/reception uniteffects the inputting/outputting of the recording medium informationwith the auxiliary storage medium during a loading operation of therecording medium.